Papua to see more troops after Saturday attack

Papua to see more troops after Saturday attack

The Jakarta Post, March 14, 2009
The Indonesian military will deploy more troops in Papua in response to escalating attacks allegedly carried out by members of the separatist group, Free Papua Organization (OPM).

Army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Christian Zebua told Antara state news agency Saturday that more soldiers would be deployed to secure areas prone to violence, particularly in Tingginambut in Puncak Jaya Regency.

“The additional personnel will come from local military command base, not from outside of the island,” Christian said.

The latest attack from members of the separatist group, he said, was on Saturday noon in Tingginambut.

“We have been trying to restrain our troops from massive retaliation. Until Saturday noon, when a patrol team were attacked and led to the death of one of the officers,” he said.

The dead officer has been identified as Saiful Jusuf. He was shot on the head.

Christian said the team had failed to capture the perpetrator. For that, he said, the army was working with the local police to identify the attackers while adding more troops in every security stations and security patrol teams.

The attackers, Antara said, also burned a bridge when they tried to escape from the army. (and)